Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 194
194 harmful to the spirit. The last prohibition relates to something which is directly harmful morally and spiritually, inasmuch as it amounts to association of others with God. A relaxation is made in the case of a person who is driven by necessity and to whom no other means of sustenance and nourishment are for the time available. He may partake of a prohibited article of food, using only that much which he considers necessary for his immediate need. In such an instance, priority is given to the need of maintaining and sustaining life, as against any possible harm that might result from the use of a minimum quantity of the forbidden article (2:174). All intoxicants are also prohibited. It is recognised that some people may derive some pleasure or advantage from the use of liquor or other prohibited article, but such use is prohibited because the harm that it might do is greater than any pleasure or advantage that might be derived from it (2:220). The prohibition, however, is clear and total (5:91). The Quran points out that indulgence in liquor tends to create dissension and enmity and that people who indulge in it are liable to neglect Prayer and the remembrance of Allah (5:92). It must also be remembered that in the matter of any pleasure or advantage to be derived from liquor, and the harm that may result from its use, it is not